Chief Judge to Conduct Public Hearings on the Unmet Civil Legal Services Needs of Low-Income New Yorkers

NEW YORK –Chief Judge Jonathan Lippman will conduct four public hearings to assess the extent and nature of unmet
civil legal services for low-income New Yorkers in matters in which their basic human needs are at stake.
The findings of these hearings will inform recommendations to the Legislature and the Executive
about the level of public resources necessary to meet those needs.

The Chief Judge will hold one hearing in each of the four Appellate Division Departments together with
the Presiding Justice of that Judicial Department, Chief Administrative Judge Ann Pfau, and President of
the New York State Bar Association, Stephen P. Younger. The Task Force to Expand Access to Civil
Legal Services in New York, empaneled by Chief Judge Lippman earlier this year, will assist the Chief
Judge in preparing for these hearings and reporting on their results.

The Chief Judge’s hearing panel will consider both oral testimony and written submissions. Because of the limited time available for the hearings, oral testimony is by invitation only. Those interested in
testifying at a hearing must request an invitation in advance of the hearing at which they propose to
testify. For detailed information on how to request an invitation to testify or how to make a written
submission and for all applicable deadlines, visit The Task Force to Expand Access to Civil Legal
Services in New York website at www.nycourts.gov/ip/access-civil-legal-services and click on the link “Notice of Chief Judge’s Hearings.”

The hearings will take place as follows:

FIRST DEPARTMENT September 28, 2010 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Appellate Division 27 Madison Avenue, New York City

The Task Force to Expand Access to Civil Legal Services in New York includes statewide representatives
from the courts, civil legal services and pro bono providers, bar associations, government, law schools,
and business and not-for-profit organizations. In supporting Chief Judge Lippman’s efforts to ensure
adequate access to justice in civil legal proceedings involving basic human needs, the Task
Force’s broad-based mission includes identifying permanent civil legal service funding streams,
improving delivery of those services and guiding the courts’ ongoing efforts to remove barriers to justice
for all New Yorkers.